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SINGAPORE'S basketball fans now have something to look forward to: A brand spanking new season of the NBA to spice up our sporting calendar. In this four-month break, you may have been like me trying to get your b-ball fix from other outlets. I got mine from watching the Redeem Team live up to their title and clinch the gold at the Olympics as well as catching a Singapore Slingers game on home turf. Watching different leagues can fill in the gaps, but for me, nobody brings it like the real deal rim-rockers of the NBA. And I miss seeing them in action. No on-court magic for them just recently. Instead some off-court magic was to be conjured in selecting what they feel will be a dream team - ultimately one who can take it to the end and win it all. We all remember how just a year ago, the Boston Celtics rose from zero to hero by pumping their team up with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to do a 'Boston Three Party' with Paul Pierce. And that party became a festivity after the powerhouse defensive team beat everyone else to place championship banner No. 17 up on NBA's most successful franchises once again. Now that Championship ring is up in the air once again. Title favourites Of course, there were tons of other trades, draft picks and injuries that changed things up in other teams in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, but none of them will be as big what the Celtics did last year. This season, I'll still be backing Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers. They're still one of the big boys in the league and a force to be reckoned with, especially in the Western Conference. They are after all, 'the best in the West'. Question now is: Who will be the best among the rest? The excitement of how things will unfold is about to begin. The unpredictability is what keeps me on my seat. The ball is round and it call roll anywhere. Enjoy the season. Catch Drinie Aguilar on STAR Sports' Engine Block, Game and Score Tonight.
DRINIE'S TOP-5 CHANGES FOR THIS NEW NBA SEASON 1 New Team - Oklahoma City Thunder SEATTLE is now without a franchise and the Super Sonics have upped sticks to Oklahoma City to become Oklahoma City Thunder. But the team may take a while before the young talents lead by Sophomore player Kevin Durant wreck havoc in the league. 2 The LA Clippers sign Marcus Camby and Baron Davis ELTON Brand left the Clippers for the 76ers so they had to fill the void he created. In comes former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Camby to protect the paint. Baron Davis (above) also adds some value. Both are hungry veterans. Hence, I won't discount this team now. 3 76ers sign Elton Brand ONE team's loss is another team's gain. Certain Clipper fans will be missing the services of Brand, but now the 76ers will be making good use of him. At his best, he's a top power forward and paired with the Sixer's Andre Iguodala they have what it takes to be much better this coming season. 4 Raptors sign Jermaine O'Neal SIX-TIME All Star Jermaine O'Neal is just getting over yet another injury, but if he's fit enough the whole season he could pair up with Chris Bosh as a powerhouse front-line. We'll just have to see if his knee post-surgery will hold up and if this combo will actually do what it sets out to achieve. 5 Rockets sign Ron Artest RON Artest could possibly be Houston's missing link to get them a berth into the Playoffs semi-final. If last season Rockets managed a spectacular 22-game winning streak last season, imagine how much further they'd go with one of the best ball defenders on their side.
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